Ali Khamenei says 'enemy' conspiring to divide Iraq-Iran over protests

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said "enemies" were trying to drive a wedge between Tehran and Baghdad in a tweet on Monday following deadly unrest in neighbouring Iraq. He further added that the 'conspiracy' will not be effective. 

"Iran and Iraq are two nations whose hearts and souls are tied together. Enemies seek to sow discord but they've failed and their conspiracy won't be effective," Khamenei was quoted as saying on his office's Twitter account. State news agency IRNA said the supreme leader was reacting to recent violence in Iraq.

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Iraq protests

After a bloody night in Baghdad, after Iraqi security forces opened fire on anti-government protesters, Iraq's Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi called on protesters to put an end to their rallies. 

The Prime Minister of Iraq said that he was ready to meet with the protesters and even hear their demands. Hours after at least 19 people lost their lives after security personnel opened fire, Adel Abdul-Mahdi said that there were orders for the security forces not to use live ammunition, except in strict cases of self-defense.

Abdul-Mahdi spoke late Saturday as one of the bloodiest in five consecutive days of unrest unfolded in Baghdad. Baghdad has been at the crux of anti-government protests, with at least 84 deaths across the country, subsequent to the protests that began with demanding jobs and an end to corruption and now includes calls for justice for those who were killed for protesting. 

The unrest is a crucial challenge for Iraq, after gaining victory against the Islamic State. More than 100 people have been killed in Iraq since clashes erupted last week between protesters and security forces, the majority of them demonstrators struck by bullets. The Iraqi authorities have accused "saboteurs" and unidentified snipers of targeting the protesters.

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Iran-Iraq ties

Iran has urged its citizens planning to take part in a major Shiite pilgrimage in Iraq to delay their travel into the country over the brutal violence. Tehran has close yet, complicated ties with Baghdad, with significant influence among its Shiite political groups. The two countries fought a bloody war from 1980 to 1988 and Iran's influence in the country grew after the US-led invasion of Iraq toppled veteran dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003.  At the moment, Iran and Iraq are close allies, backing each other to fight the ISIS. 

(With PTI inputs)